A GARDEN centre in Reading has revealed what Christmas events it is offering customers this year.

Dobbies Garden Centres in Hyde End Road, Reading, will be putting on events such as breakfast with Santa and afternoon tea.

The company said there will be fun for the whole family with a focus on bringing together communities, and with social distancing measures in place.

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It added the safety of customers and team members is its number one priority.

To ensure customers feel safe and have an enjoyable experience, there will be reduced capacity at events to ensure social distancing is adhered to.

This will be managed with online bookings for all events.

Scheduled cleaning and rigorous hygiene routines will also be carried out between events, with attendees notified when required to wear a face covering.

Santa’s Arrival is one of the highlights of this year’s events calendar and families are invited to greet him in all 68 stores.

As well as giving Santa a warm welcome on the day, families can also book to enjoy a Santa’s Arrival Breakfast or Lunch, enjoying items from the Christmas menu.

Breakfast with Santa is back with children able to spend a morning with Santa himself.

Dobbies will also be hosting a special Christmas Party with Dobbie the Reindeer, packed with dancing and festive games - and a gift and visit from Santa.

Children can explore the Winter Wonderland before seeing Santa in his grotto and receiving a gift.

This year, the grottos will be in open spaces to allow for social distancing.

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Young children can let their imaginations run wild at the Little Seedlings Christmas Stories sessions. Tailored to little ones aged 5 and under, families can settle down and listen to charming Christmas-themed stories while enjoying a treat and refreshments.

In the restaurants, Dobbies will also be hosting a number of special Afternoon Tea experiences.

While enjoying a selection of finger sandwiches, fresh scones, delicious cakes and freshly brewed tea or coffee, customers can take part in a number of Christmas-themed workshops, including cocktail making, a Christmas decoration masterclass, or even learn how to make an indoor winter garden.

Graeme Jenkins, CEO at Dobbies, said: “Our Christmas events programme has something for all ages as we have focused on bringing communities back together over the festive period.

“We will be following government guidelines to ensure our events are safe and enjoyable for both customers and team members. We look forward to welcoming customers in all 68 stores for seasonal fun.”

Dobbies’ Christmas events schedule is available to view online, with customers requested to book in advance wherever possible.

Customers can also Book with Confidence, with a full refund issued if Dobbies cancel the event, and free cancellation if customers need to cancel, up to 3 days prior to the event.

For more information visit dobbies.com.